Air enclosurewith side cushioning function

ABSTRACT

An air enclosure with a side cushioning function comprises two outer films stacked together vertically and two inner films disposed between the outer films. An air filling passageway is formed between the inner films and a plurality of air filling permissible air cylinders and at least one air filling impermissible air cylinder are formed between the outer films by means of hot sealing, and air entering passageways used for communicating the air filling passageway with the air filling permissible air cylinders are formed by adhering the inner films by means of hot sealing. When air in the air filling passageway enters the air entering passageways to cause the plurality of air filling permissible air cylinders to be filled with air and expanded, the air filling impermissible air cylinders maintain flat and a fall of level is generated between the air filling permissible and impermissible air cylinders to enable the air filling permissible air cylinders to wrap a different size or dimension of article and provide the article with the side cushioning function.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 095129944 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on 2006/08/15, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

1. FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air enclosure, and more particularly to an air enclosure with a side cushioning function.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

A conventional way for packing an article with a cushioning agent mostly is wrapping around the article with a plastic sheet on which a plurality of small raised air bags are projected to attain to the shock-absorbed cushioning functions. But the shock absorption capability of the small air bags is limited such that the cushioning and the shock absorption effects to a larger shock or impulse cannot be attained.

Therefore, an air packing bag made from a resin material is developed. Please refer to FIGS. 1A to 1D. An air inlet A11 is disposed on one side of a packing bag A10 and an air entering passageway A12 is connected to the air inlet A11, in which the air entering passageway A12 has air routes respectively communicated with each air chamber A13 and is disposed with an air valve A14 constituted by a upper air valve film and a lower air valve film. After air in the air inlet A11 is filled into each air chamber A13 via the air entering passageway A12, the air packing bag A10 can then be filled with air to expand and used as a cushioning means. For example, Taiwan Utility Patent No. M262680 proposes an air packing bag with a reverse air locking sheet capable of being used for wrapping a flat type article; if a type of the article is irregular or a breadth of a product is slightly different, a different air packing bag must then be used to process packing. Furthermore, Chinese Patent Publishing No. CN1620392A proposes a thin plastic film made bag with an air cushioning effect; the side protection is not good and the wrapping is difficult when it is used for packing a square or an irregular polygonal type article. Furthermore, Chinese Utility Patent No. 2004200870092 discloses a double side enforced type air cushioning bag; a shape of the bag is fixed and without any elasticity while being used such that it is only adapted to pack a flat article and unable to warp a square article. Moreover, each packing bag must be conform to a size of a packed-to-be article, otherwise it cannot be used; namely, it is not a multipurpose bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For improving a structure of an air packing bag to allow it to wrap a different size or dimension of article and provide a side cushioning protection effect, the present invention is proposed.

The present invention proposes an air enclosure with a side cushioning function; it comprises two outer film stacked together vertically and two inner films disposed between the outer films, and hot sealing means is used to process hot sealing to allow a air filling passageway to be formed between the inner films, a plurality of air filling permissible air cylinders and at least one air filling impermissible air cylinder are formed between the outer films; next, the inner films are adhered by means of hot sealing to each other to form an air entering passageways used for communicating the air filling passageway with the air filling permissible air cylinders.

The present invention also proposes an air enclosure with a side cushioning function; it comprises two outer film stacked together vertically and a inner film disposed between the outer films, and hot sealing means is used to process hot sealing to allow a air filling passageway to be formed between the inner film and one of the outer films, a plurality of air filling permissible air cylinders and at least one air filling impermissible air cylinder are formed between the outer films; next, the inner films are adhered to one of the outer films by means of hot sealing to form an air entering passageways used for communicating the air filling passageway with the air filling permissible air cylinders.

When air in the air filling passageway allows the plurality of the air filling permissible air cylinders to be filled with air and expanded via the air entering passageway and the air filling impermissible air cylinders maintain flat such that a fall of level is generated between the air filling permissible and impermissible air cylinders. The air filling permissible air cylinders are bended along the air filling impermissible air cylinders thereby allowing the air filling permissible air cylinders to wrap a different size of article and providing the article with the side cushioning function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a conventional air packing bag before being filled with air;

FIG. 1B is a schematic view of a conventional air packing bag after being filled with air;

FIG. 1C is a schematic view of a conventional air packing bag before being filled with air;

FIG. 2A is a plane view, showing a double sheet wall-attached type air enclosure before being filled with air of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a schematic view, showing rigging processing of an air enclosure shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a schematic view, showing a double sheet wall-attached type air enclosure after being filled with air in one situation; and

FIG. 3B is a schematic view, showing a double sheet wall-attached type air enclosure after being filled with air in another situation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Please refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIGS. 2A is a plane view showing a double sheet wall-attached type air enclosure before being filled with air of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention and FIG. 2B is a schematic view showing rigging processing of an air enclosure shown in FIG. 2A.

An air enclosure with a side cushioning function comprises two outer films 2 a and 2 b, two inner films 1 a and 1 b, a plurality of air filling permissible air cylinders 11, at least on air filling impermissible air cylinder 13 and a plurality of air entering passageways 13.

Both outer films 2 a and 2 b are stacked together vertically.

Both inner films 1 a and 1 b are attached on one side of the outer film 2 a or 2 b, and a heat resistant material 1 c is spread between the inner films 1 a and 1 b so as to use the heat resistant material 1 c as a passageway capable of allowing air to flow.

Hot sealing is processed along hot sealing lines 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, 3 d and 3 e so as to adhere the outer films 2 a and 2 b and the inner films 1 a and 1 b together to allow the air filling passageway 9 to be formed between the outer films 1 a and 1 b. The air filling passageway 9 is passed through the hot sealing lines 3 e and hot sealing can be a hot mold pressing.

After hot sealing is processed, a plurality of air filling permissible air cylinders 11 capable of storing air and a plurality of air filling impermissible air cylinder 12 at one side of the air filling permissible air cylinders are allowed to form between the outer films 2 a and 2 b. Furthermore, one side of the air filling impermissible air cylinder 12 can be connected with the air filling permissible air cylinder 11 or two sides thereof can respectively be connected with the air filling permissible air cylinders 11.

A plurality of nodes 10 are formed on each air filling permissible air cylinder 11 by means of hot sealing, the air filling permissible air cylinders 12 can then be bended along the nodes 10. Disposition positions of the nodes 10 can be decided depending on an outlook of a packed-to-be article when hot sealing is processed so as to accept every kind of different article.

A heat resistant material is spread sequentially and separately between the inner films 1 a and 1 b, for example, heat resistant resin or ink is printed to allow the inner films 1 a and 1 b not to be adhered to each other to form the air entering passageways 13 even after hot sealing is processed. Accordingly, parts of air entering passageways 13 are closed by means of hot sealing to allow air in the air filling passageway 9 not to enter the air filling impressible air cylinders 12 to enable the air filling impermissible air cylinders 12 not to be filled with air.

Furthermore, rigging is processed on the air filling permissible air cylinders 11 and the air filling impermissible air cylinders 12 and a upper side and any one longitudinal side thereof are adhered by means of hot sealing to allow the air filling permissible air cylinders 11 and the air filling impermissible air cylinders to form an accepting space for accepting an article after being rigged.

Please refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG. 3A is a schematic view showing a double sheet wall-attached type air enclosure after being filled with air in one situation and FIG. 3B is a schematic view showing a double sheet wall-attached type air enclosure after being filled with air in another situation.

Air entering the air filling passageway 9 allows the inner films 1 a and 1 b to be pulled apart outward so as to use the air in the air filling passageway 9 to fill the air filling permissible air cylinders 11 with air to cause the air filling permissible air cylinders 11 to be filled with air and expanded. Inner air pressure in each air filling permissible air cylinder 11 presses the inner films 1 a and 1 b to attach closely onto the outer films 2 a or 2 b to cover the air entering passageway 13 to shield the air filling permissible air cylinder 11 to allow air not to be leaked out and attain to the air sealing effect. But, the air filling impermissible air cylinder 12 still maintains flat such that a fall of level is generated between it and the air filling permissible air cylinder 12 after the air filling permissible air cylinder 11 is caused to fill with air and expand.

The air filling permissible air cylinders 11 are bended along the nodes 10 to cause it to conform to an outlook of a packed-to-be article so as to be able to accept a cubic or irregular polygonal article. Thereafter, it is then bended along the air filling impermissible air cylinders 12 to cause a position of the air filling permissible air cylinder 11 adjacent to the air filling impermissible air cylinder 12 to be changed to form a side protection air cylinder so as to provide the side cushioning function for the wrapped article.

However, the air filling impermissible air cylinders 12 still maintain flat to become a connection section between the expanded air cylinders, and because the air cylinder is made from resin, the air filling impermissible air cylinders are caused to form a flexible area; a distance between the air filling permissible air cylinder 12 and the air filling permissible air cylinder 11 adjacent thereto is extended by pulling the air filling impressible air cylinder 12, and the accepting space of the air cylinder can then be enlarged to accept a larger article. Vice versa, the accepting space of the air enclosure can be shrunk to accept a smaller article to attain to the object of wrapping different sizes and dimensions of articles.

A middle section of the air filling impermissible air cylinder mentioned above cannot be filled with air and is provided with tiny tubes connected with upper and lower sections of the air cylinder to still enable the upper and the lower sections of the air filling impermissible air cylinder 12 to be filled with air.

The air enclosure according to the present invention can be designed to be a double sheet wall-attached type, double sheet wall-hanged type or single sheet wall-attached type. If it is the single sheet wall-attached type, the air filling passageway 9 is a space formed by adhering the inner film 1 a to the outer film 2 a by means of hot sealing, the air entering passageways 13 are formed by adhering the inner film 1 a to the outer film 2 a by means of hot sealing, other structures thereof are the same as the double sheet wall-attached type air enclosure.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. An air enclosure with a side cushioning function, comprising: two outer films, stacked together vertically; two inner films, disposed between the outer films; an air filling passageway, being a space formed by adhering the inner films to each other by means of hot sealing; a plurality of air filling permissible air cylinders, disposed at one end of the air filling passageway and respectively being an air storable space formed by adhering the outer films to each other by means of hot sealing; at least one air filling impermissible air cylinder, disposed at one end of the air filling passageway and formed by adhering the outer films to each other by means of hot sealing; and at least one air entering passageway, communicated with the air filling passageway and the air filling permissible air cylinder and formed by adhering the inner films to each other by means of hot sealing; wherein, after the air filling permissible air cylinders are filled with air and expanded, the air filling impermissible air cylinders maintain flat and a fall of level is generated between the air filling permissible and impressible air cylinders, the air enclosure is bended along the air filling impermissible air cylinders to enable the air filling permissible air cylinders to wrap an article and provide the side cushioning function.
 2. The air enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the air filling permissible air cylinder comprises at least one node, and the air filling permissible air cylinder is bended along the nodes.
 3. The air enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the air filling permissible air cylinder is positioned at one side of the air filling permissible air cylinder.
 4. The air enclosure according to claim 3, wherein the air filling impressible air cylinder is positioned between the air filling permissible air cylinders.
 5. The air enclosure according to claim 4, wherein the air filling permissible air cylinders forms a flexible area used for allowing a distance between the air filling permissible air cylinders to be adjusted.
 6. The air enclosure according to claim 1, wherein a middle section of the air filling impermissible air cylinder is not allowed to fill with air and provided with tiny tubes connected with upper and lower sections thereof to allow the upper and the lower sections of the air filling impermissible air cylinder to be filled with air yet.
 7. The air enclosure according to claim 1, wherein parts of the air entering passageways are sealed by means of hot sealing to cause air in the air filling passageway not to enter the air filling impermissible air passageways.
 8. An air enclosure with a side cushioning function, comprising: two outer films, stacked together vertically; two inner films, disposed between the outer films; an air filling passageway, being a space formed by adhering the inner film to one of the outer films by means of hot sealing; a plurality of air filling permissible air cylinders, disposed at one end of the air filling passageway and respectively being an air storable space formed by adhering the outer films to each other by means of hot sealing; at least one air filling impermissible air cylinder, disposed at one end of the air filling passageway and formed by adhering the outer films to each other by means of hot sealing; and at least one air entering passageway, communicated with the air filling passageway and the air filling permissible air cylinder and formed by adhering the inner film to one of the outer films by means of hot sealing; wherein, after the air filling permissible air cylinders are filled with air and expanded, the air filling impermissible air cylinders maintain flat and a fall of level is generated between the air filling permissible and impressible air cylinders, the air enclosure is bended along the air filling impermissible air cylinders to enable the air filling permissible air cylinders to wrap an article and provide the side cushioning function.
 9. The air enclosure according to claim 8, wherein the air filling permissible air cylinder comprises at least one node, and the air filling permissible air cylinder is bended along the nodes.
 10. The air enclosure according to claim 8, wherein the air filling permissible air cylinder is positioned at one side of the air filling permissible air cylinder.
 11. The air enclosure according to claim 10, wherein the air filling impressible air cylinder is positioned between the air filling permissible air cylinders.
 12. The air enclosure according to claim 11, wherein the air filling permissible air cylinders forms a flexible area used for allowing a distance between the air filling permissible air cylinders to be adjusted.
 13. The air enclosure according to claim 8, wherein a middle section of the air filling impermissible air cylinder is not allowed to fill with air and provided with tiny tubes connected with upper and lower sections thereof to allow the upper and the lower sections of the air filling impermissible air cylinder to be filled with air yet.
 14. The air enclosure according to claim 8, wherein parts of the air entering passageways are sealed by means of hot sealing to cause air in the air filling passageway not to enter the air filling impermissible air passageways. 